Idaho women’s basketball team to open NCAA Tournament against Connecticut

The Idaho Vandals’ women’s basketball team will play No. 1 seed Connecticut in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. on ESPN2. The game is in Storrs, Conn. Idaho is a No. 16 seed.

The Vandals (17-15) started the year 4-10. Idaho won its three conference tournament games by a combined seven points.

It is the second NCAA appearance for the Vandals, who made their first trip in 1985.

Connecticut, a perennial power in women’s basketball, hasn’t lost a first-round match-up since falling to Louisville in 1993. The Huskies (29-4) are looking for a record sixth consecutive trip to the Final Four and an eighth national title.

Sports columnist Brian Murphy writes about all sports in the Treasure Valley with a concentration on Boise State football and men's basketball. Murph has been with the Statesman since 2005. You can follow him on Twitter @MurphsTurph.